May 19, 2009 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), signed into law on February 17, 2009, contains a number of important provisions that affect railroad retirement annuitants and railroad workers. Among other provisions, the Act provides up to 13 weeks of special extended unemployment benefits for certain rail workers who exhaust their right to benefits normally provided under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA).
Among those eligible to receive additional unemployment benefits are rail workers who did not have 10 years of railroad service (120 cumulative service months). Additionally, railroad workers who were previously eligible for extended benefits of up to 65 days may now be eligible for extended benefits of up to 130 days.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will mail notices to eligible employees who previously exhausted their rights to normal or extended unemployment benefits. Rail workers who do not receive notification by mail can contact their local RRB office toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 or visit the RRB website at www.rrb.gov.
The special extended unemployment benefits are funded from the appropriation of $20 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Payment of special unemployment benefits will stop at the end of a person’s extended unemployment benefit period or when the $20 million has been spent – whichever comes first.
